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Protecting Texas' Most Pristine River

August 24, 2005

In West Texas, clear spring-fed waters weave a river of turquoise and jade through pale limestone canyons. The luminously blue Devils River lies at the heart of a rich biological crossroads where three contrasting ecoregions converge.

Recently, The Nature Conservancy protected nearly 88,000 acres surrounding the headwaters of this remote, free-flowing ecological jewel through the sale of the land to a private conservation buyer – believed to be the largest conservation-buyer transaction in The Nature Conservancy’s history and the latest achievement in our long-term efforts to protect a river that is crucial for both human communities and wildlife.

From its headwaters, the Devils River winds southward through steep, wooded canyons, mesa-like hills dotted with mesquite and juniper, and a desert of prickly pear and purple sage for nearly 60 miles before joining the waters of the Rio Grande at Lake Amistad on the U.S.-Mexico border. Fed by powerful freshwater springs, the Devils and its tributary, Dolan Creek, comprise what many consider the most pristine river in Texas. Its unique spring flows and habitats are what initially sparked The Nature Conservancy’s interest in the Devils River Basin more than a decade ago.

“The Devils River is a special place,” said James King, West Texas program manager, who has spearheaded the Conservancy’s Devils River conservation activities from the beginning. “You can feel it, not only in the unique ecology of this spring-fed river, but in the people who live and ranch there.”

These clean waters harbor a rare salamander and several rare, declining fish species, many of which are unique to the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion. The wooded tributary canyons of the Devils River corridor serve as important migration paths for birds and monarch butterflies traversing this dry region. The area sustains other rare species as well, including the Texas snowbell, the Devils River minnow, and the black-capped vireo, an endangered songbird that nests here each spring.

The Nature Conservancy’s efforts in the region now protect Fern Cave, a maternity roost for up to 10 million Mexican free-tailed bats from May through October, as well as the northernmost known wintering site for this species. The river also bears witness to its ancient Native American inhabitants. Fine examples of pictographs, Native American artwork painted on rock dating from historic times to 5,000 years ago, also are conserved through the Conservancy’s work.

The Nature Conservancy began its conservation efforts on the Devils River in 1991, with the establishment of the 4,800-acre Dolan Falls Preserve, home to the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Texas as well as many rare and endangered species. Conservation efforts continued steadily since that time through work with private and public partners, resulting a mosaic of protected lands up and down the river.

“The private ranching families have done an excellent job in keeping this river special for over 100 years,” King said. “Now, using the conservation-buyer program as a tool, we have been successful in abating threats from subdivision when ranches do change hands.”

In 2003, The Nature Conservancy purchased the 87,760 acres that comprised eight historic ranches, intended for eventual sale to a conservation buyer. With that transaction now complete, The Nature Conservancy has now permanently protected about 25 miles along the river, and nearly 150,000 acres in the Devils River Basin.

For more information about freshwater conservation in Texas:

• The Nature Conservancy in Texas
  In the Lone Star State, The Nature Conservancy of Texas owns 34 nature preserves and conservation projects and manages another 61 projects through voluntary land-preservation agreements with landowners, The Nature Conservancy of Texas protects 250,000 acres of wild lands and, with partners, has conserved close to a million acres for wildlife habitat across the state.
• How We Work: Sustainable Waters Program
  The vision of The Nature Conservancy's Sustainable Waters Program is to help protect freshwater ecosystems by advancing water policies that secure adequate water flows in rivers, lakes and wetlands.
• Places We Protect: Devils River, Texas
  There are vast tracts of land where the spirit of the Texas frontier remains unbroken. Where gin-clear waters bring a lush balance of turquoise and jade to sun-parched canyons. This is Nature's private crossroad.
• Places We Protect: Dolan Falls Preserve
  On the arid western border of the Texas Hill Country, halfway between Del Rio and Sonora, lies one of the jewels of The Nature Conservancy: the Dolan Falls Preserve.
• Success Story: Devils River, Texas
  The Nature Conservancy has purchased 87,760 acres to protect the Devils River, considered the most pristine river in Texas. The deal is believed to be the largest private conservation effort ever undertaken in Texas.
• How You Can Help: Support our efforts in Texas
  You can help protect the last great places in Texas by donating online today.
• Archive of our Saves of the Week and Success Stories
  Read more about The Nature Conservancy's work to save the last great places on Earth.